A sizable challenge

Arizona State sophomore Kali Bennett (right photo) is back on the court this season after sitting out last year. Bennett, who transferred to ASU from Washington, will face Baylor freshman center Brittney Griner (left photo) on Sunday in Las Vegas.

For much of her basketball career, Kali Bennett never fully embraced the idea of being a post player.

Bennett ran through all the drills and mastered all the moves, but she never felt at home on the low block despite her 6-foot-5 stature.

My how things have changed.

Call it an epiphany. Call it maturation. Call it being practical.

Regardless of the reason, Bennett is finally talking a big game to match her big size.

"The coaches have won me over on getting me to play a pure five," the Arizona State redshirt stophomore said. "I have been fighting that battle since I was in high school. But I figure I have the body, so I might as well use it."

After a one-year layoff, Bennett has returned to the court this season mentally and physically stronger.

The Ventura High graduate will face her toughest challenge to date when 14th-ranked ASU (7-1) faces No. 6 Baylor and its freshman phenom Brittney Griner at the Holiday Hoops Classic in Las Vegas on Sunday night.

The 6-foot-8 Griner became a YouTube sensation long before arriving at Baylor. The Houston native dunked 52 times as a senior in high school last year, and threw down her first collegiate dunk last month.

"That is definitely something you don't face every day," Bennett said. "But I think my strength is my advantage. I am a big girl, so hopefully I can use my body to my advantage against her."

Bennett attended Washington as a freshman, but wasn't happy and decided to transfer to Arizona State.

She received a letter-of- intent waiver allowing her to transfer to another Pacific-10 Conference school without losing a year of eligibility.

Bennett redshirted last season, and although it was hard to watch the games from the bench, Bennett believes it was for the better.

"It was almost a little bit of a stress relief because I could practice and get better and better and not have to worry about games," Bennett said. "I felt really prepared coming into this year. The first game back I felt like I had freshman anxiety all over again, but I am getting back into the swing of things."

Bennett is averaging 9.1 points and 7.8 rebounds for the Sun Devils, and was recently named the Most Valuable Player at the Rainbow Wahine Classic.

"I am just excited for Kali for her possibilities because in her mind she wants to be great and she can be," Arizona State coach Charli Turner Thorne said. "She is just one of the strongest women we have ever coached. My three bigs last year were seniors, and after the first week of practice out there with her, they were like, ‘Oh, my gosh. I have never played against anybody that strong.' "

Bennett has always possessed athleticism, soft hands and good footwork for a player her size. But she's added more muscle to her game, thanks to more time spent in the weight room.

"I am still allowed to shoot the 3-pointer, but I am more of a pure five now and learning more solid post moves and rebounding more consistently than I used to," Bennett said. "I am in better shape than I've ever been, my feet are a lot quicker and I am playing much better defense."

Bennett admits to being a bit "selfish" in high school by caring more about individual goals than team goals at times.

But since arriving at ASU, it's been "team, team, team," she said.

"I am just trying to do whatever Charli needs me to do, try my hardest and empty out everything I have on every possession of every game," said Bennett, a double major in interior design and criminal justice. "I've had that attitude before, but it wasn't as consistent as it should have been. Now it's not about me, it's about the team."

Griner has been tagged as a player who could revolutionize the women's game with her dunking and shot-blocking abilities.

Sporting size-17 shoes and an 88-inch wingspan, Griner doesn't need a running start to dunk. She became the seventh woman to dunk in a college game with her one-handed slam off a lob pass against Jacksonville State.

"I've never seen a girl that can effortlessly dunk it any way she wants, left-handed, right-handed, two-hand jam," Baylor head coach Kim Mulkey said. "I think the only dunk I've not ever seen her do is the windmill."

Griner realizes people are watching her every move this season.

"I can sense in the crowd that whenever I get the ball they are excited to see me dunk," said Griner, who recorded the first triple-double in Baylor history on Wednesday night with 34 points, 13 rebounds and 11 blocked shots in a win over Oral Roberts. "It's almost like if I lay it up there's some disappointment."

Bennett wants to avoid becoming poster-worthy material for Griner's next dunk, and has spent this week preparing for the post battle.

"One of our scout guys is like 6-9 and he is really long," Bennett said. "He said to be ready for him to be Brittney Griner all week. I am really excited to play against her, and my coach was telling me I should get really pumped for this game."